32 healthcare units in Delhi get closure notice over waste disposal

TNN | Jul 17, 2019, 09.25 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has issued closure notices to 32 healthcare facilities in the capital for improper disposal of biomedical waste. Of them, 10 have been sealed so far, officials said.

The drive was started against those violating Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, which means they were not disposing biomedical waste properly or not sending it to the authorised biomedical waste treatment units.

DPCC officials said of the 32 units, 19 are bedded and 13 are non-bedded. While 10 have been sealed, the remaining have been asked to vacate the premises in due time as patients were already admitted to them. “An environmental compensation has been issued against these 32 units with fines ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 24 lakh,” an official said.

At present, Delhi has only two authorised common biomedical waste treatment facilities. However, to improve compliance, tenders for more such facilities will be invited, DPCC said. Action against defaulters was initiated on June 15 with special care being taken for hospitals that have patients at a critical stage, DPCC added. Under the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, all healthcare facilities operating in the capital, irrespective of the method of treatment and the quantity of waste generated, have to seek authorisation from DPCC.

“Healthcare facilities that generate biomedical waste are also required to enter into an agreement with either one of the two biomedical waste treatment facilities in the city,” said the DPCC official.